Embroidering machine

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an embroidering machine in which a moving body ( 40 ) is installed on a base framework ( 10 ) so as to be displaceable along a Y-axis, a sewing device ( 60 ) is installed on the moving body ( 40 ) so as to be displaceable along an X-axis by LM guides ( 61,62 ) and a ball screw ( 63 ) connected to a motor ( 64 ), and longitudinally elongated left and right nippers ( 70, 80 ) are installed on opposite sides of the base framework ( 10 ) to keep a cloth tensioned along the X-axis until a predetermined unit size of cloth fed to the base framework ( 10 ) is completely embroidered.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an embroidering machine, and more particularly, to an embroidering machine capable of continuously imparting a given tension to a cloth along an X-axis of the cloth until an embroidering operation for a predetermined unit size of cloth is completed.

BACKGROUND ART

In the case of a general embroidering machine, a cloth is displaceable along a Y-axis thereof by torque motors provided at a cloth feeding roller and a cloth transfer roller. Further, in the case of a sewing machine having a plurality of sewing heads, a cloth is displaceable along an X-axis thereof. With cooperation of the embroidering machine and the sewing machine, various patterns can be successively embroidered on the cloth.

However, during an embroidering operation of a cloth using the above described embroidering machine, imparting tension to the cloth along an X-axis thereof is impossible although the cloth is appropriately tensioned along a Y-axis thereof owing to the torque motors provided at the cloth feeding roller and the cloth transfer roller. Therefore, the cloth may be insufficiently tensioned during an embroidering operation, which results in deterioration in product quality due to deformation of embroidered patterns.

To solve the above described problem, the applicant of the present invention filed Korean Patent Applications No. 2006-0064573 and No. 2008-0010318, which disclose a cloth tensioning apparatus of an embroidering machine. In the disclosed cloth tensioning apparatus, longitudinally elongated nippers, each of which is movable in longitudinal and transversal directions, are provided at opposite sides of a cloth fed into a base framework. The left and right nippers are moved away from each other after seizing opposite sides of the cloth, thereby imparting an appropriate tension to the cloth along an X-axis thereof. Thereafter, the left and right nippers are moved along a Y-axis of the cloth to keep the cloth tensioned along the X-axis during an embroidering operation.

Although the above described cloth tensioning apparatus functions to impart an appropriate tension along the X-axis of the cloth, it is necessary to temporarily stop the embroidering operation after the embroidering operation is performed by a given operating distance because the longitudinally elongated left and right nippers are installed in a transfer direction of the cloth, having difficulty obtaining a sufficient longitudinal (Y-axis) operating distance along the cloth within the base framework during the embroidering operation. Thus, it is necessary to release the left and right nippers from the cloth for about 5 to 7 seconds and move the left and right nippers rearward by a predetermined distance during such stoppage of the embroidering operation. After the left and right nippers again seize and pull opposite sides of the cloth at the rearwardly moved position to apply tension along the X-axis of the cloth, the embroidering operation is restarted. The above described operation should be repeated until the embroidering operation of the cloth is completed.

Since the left and right nippers should repeat the above described operation about 20 times until an embroidering operation for a predetermined unit size of cloth (2 m in length×2.3 m in width) is completed, it is necessary to stop the embroidering operation for at least about 100 seconds to obtain a predetermined unit size of embroidered cloth, which results in considerable deterioration in productivity. In particular, when releasing the left and right nippers from the cloth during such stoppage of the embroidering operation and then, again applying tension to the cloth after moving the left and right nippers rearward, it is difficult to apply the same tension as the previously applied tension. Moreover, the cloth may suffers from a difference in tension due to an elasticity difference between an embroidery region and a non-embroidery region thereof on the basis of an embroidering stop position. which results in several problems, such as deterioration in product quality due to deformation of embroidered patterns.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an embroidering machine in which left and right nippers can continuously impart a given tension to a cloth along an X-axis of the cloth until an embroidering operation for a predetermined unit size of cloth is completed, thereby achieving enhanced productivity and improved product quality without deformation of embroidered patterns due to variation in the tension of the cloth.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects of the present invention can be accomplished by the provision of an embroidering machine including longitudinally elongated left and right nippers installed on opposite sides of an approximately rectangular base framework, such that an embroidering operation is performed via Y-axis displacement of a moving body on the base framework and X-axis displacement of a sewing device on the moving body in a state in which the left and right nippers seize and pull a predetermined unit size of cloth fed to the base framework so as to impart tension to the cloth along an X-axis thereof, whereby the left and right nippers continuously impart a given tension along the X-axis of the cloth until a pattern is completely embroidered on the predetermined unit size of cloth fed to the base framework.

Advantageous Effects

According to an embroidering machine of the present invention, once a predetermined unit size of cloth is fed to a base framework by a cloth feeding roller and a cloth transfer roller, an embroidering operation is performed by Y-axis displacement of a moving body on the base framework and X-axis displacement of a sewing device on the moving body in a state in which elongated left and right nippers installed on opposite sides of the base framework seize and pull opposite sides of the cloth to impart tension to the cloth along an X-axis thereof. As the left and right nippers can continuously impart tension along the X-axis of the cloth until a pattern is completely embroidered on a predetermined unit size of cloth fed to the base framework, it is possible to eliminate loss of time required to impart tension to the cloth along the X-axis, resulting in dramatically enhanced productivity. In particular, since there is no risk of variation in the tension of the cloth along the X-axis during embroidering of the predetermined unit size of cloth, it is possible to prevent deformation of an embroidered pattern due to variation in the tension of the cloth, which can result in enhanced product quality.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial top perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial bottom perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating a partial configuration of a nipper included in the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the nipper included in the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a partial configuration of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In the following description, detailed explanation of the known related art or functions will be omitted to facilitate a better understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention. In the present invention, a cloth feeding roller 20 and a cloth transfer roller 30 are connected to front and rear sides of an approximately rectangular base framework 10. A moving body 40 is connected to left and right frames 11 and 12 of the base framework 10 and is adapted to be displaceable along a Y-axis by LM guides 41 and 42 and a ball screw 43. A plurality of supporting bands 50 is installed in a drawable manner between a front frame 13 of the base framework 10 and the moving body 40 and serves to prevent sagging of a cloth. A sewing device 60 is installed on the moving body 40 so as to be displaceable along an X-axis by LM guides 61 and 62 and a ball screw 63. Both ends of longitudinally elongated left and right nippers 70 and 80 are connected to front and rear positions of the base framework 10 so as not to interfere with the moving body 40 and the sewing device 60 and serve to perform an embroidering operation under control of a control unit.

The rectangular base framework 10 used in the present invention is fabricated to have a size and shape suitable to receive a predetermined unit size of cloth.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a connection relationship between the base framework, the moving body, and the sewing device. The moving body 40 has a transversely elongated rectangular form and is made of a light weight and high strength material, such as aluminum. The moving body 40 is securely connected to guide blocks of longitudinally elongated LM guides 41 and 42 installed on the left and right frames 11 and 12 of the base framework 10 and nuts of the ball screw 43 connected respectively to middle positions of front and rear middle frames 14 and 15 of the base framework 10. The moving body 40 is displaceable along the Y-axis by operation of a motor 44 connected to the ball screw 43 via a timing belt.

The sewing device 60 includes a base 65 and a head frame 66, which are integrally connected to each other via left and right connection bars. A plurality of sewing heads 67 is equidistantly connected to a surface of the head frame 66. The sewing device 60 is connected to guide blocks of the LM guides 61 and 62, which are connected respectively to opposite sides of the moving body 40 via connection pieces of the left and right connection bars. One of the connection bars is connected to a nut of the ball screw 63 on one side of the moving body 40 such that the sewing device 60 is displaceable along the X-axis by operation of a motor 64 connected to the ball screw 63 via a timing belt.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the nipper used in the present invention. The nipper 70 or 80 is elongated to have the same longitudinal length as that of the base framework 10. Each of the left and right nippers 70 and 80 includes upper and lower nipper portions 71 and 72 or 81 and 82, which are formed by alternately attaching a plurality of upper and lower support pieces to facing surfaces of highly bending resistant reinforced bars. A plurality of vertical cylinders 73 or 83 is connected between the upper and lower nipper portions 71 and 72 or 81 and 82 to allow the nipper portions 71 and 72 or 81 and 82 to seize or release the cloth. The lower nipper portion 72 or 82 is securely connected, via front and rear connecting pieces 74 and 84, to guide blocks of LM guides 76 and 77 or 86 and 87, which are respectively connected to left and right sides of the front and rear frames 13 and 16 of the base framework 10. Horizontal cylinders 75 and 85 are respectively installed on the front and rear frames 13 and 16 of the base framework 10 between the front or rear connecting pieces 74 and 84. The horizontal cylinders 75 and 85 serve to allow the left and right nippers 70 and 80 to be simultaneously operated toward or away from each other.

FIG. 7 illustrates the plurality of supporting bands, which are installed between the base framework and the moving body to prevent sagging of the cloth. The plurality of supporting bands 50 is densely arranged such that one end of each supporting band 50 is wound on a winding rod 52 connected to a torque motor 51 of the front frame 13 of the base framework 10 and the other end of the supporting band 50 is connected to a fixing piece 45 of the moving body 40 by way of a guiding roller 53 that serves to balance the supporting band 50. With this installation, the supporting band 50 is wound or unwound onto or from the winding rod 52 as the moving body 40 is moved along a Y-axis, so as to be kept tightly tensioned by the torque motor 51.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention. Two moving bodies 40 a and 40 b are installed on a base framework 10 a so as to be displaceable along a Y-axis under assistance of LM guides and a ball screw respectively. Sewing devices 60 a and 60 b are installed respectively to the moving bodies 40 a and 40 b so as to be displaceable along an X-axis under assistance of LM guides and a ball screw. The present embodiment shows that the two sewing devices 60 a and 60 b can be simultaneously used to perform an embroidering operation on a predetermined unit size of cloth fed to the base framework 10 a.

In the present invention, as a predetermined unit size of cloth is fed into the base framework 10 by way of the cloth feeding roller 20, the sewing device 60 and the cloth transfer roller 30 in sequence, the torque motors 21 and 31 provided at the cloth feeding roller 20 and the cloth transfer roller 30 impart tension to the cloth along a Y-axis under control of the control unit and subsequently, the left and right nippers 70 and 80 seize the cloth to impart tension to the cloth along an X-axis thereof. Thereafter, an embroidering operation is performed via Y-axis displacement of the moving body 40 on the base framework 10 and X-axis displacement of the sewing device 60 on the moving body 40.

In this case, the left and right nippers 70 and 80, which impart tension to the cloth along the X-axis, are longitudinally installed at opposite sides of the base framework 10 to pass between the base 65 and the head frame 66 with a sufficient gap therebetween, which can prevent interference between the nippers 70 and 80 and the sewing device 60.

During operation, the left and right nippers 70 and 80 are moved toward each other by the horizontal cylinders 75 and 85 in a state in which the upper and lower nipper portions 71 and 72 or 81 and 82 are spaced apart from each other by the vertical cylinders 73 and 83, such that opposite ends of the cloth pass between the upper and lower nipper portions 71 and 72 and between the upper and lower nipper portions 81 and 82. Subsequently, the upper nipper portions 71 and 81 are moved downward by the vertical cylinders 73 and 83 such that the left and right nippers 70 and 80 seize opposite ends of the cloth. Then, the left and right nippers 70 and 80 are moved away from each other by the horizontal cylinders 75 and 85, thereby imparting tension to the cloth along the X-axis.

Moreover, since the left and right nippers 70 and 80 are elongated to have the same longitudinal length as that of the base framework 10, the left and right nippers 70 and 80 can simultaneously seize a predetermined unit size of cloth fed to the base framework 10 at a given position to impart tension to the piece of cloth. In addition, as the upper and lower nipper portions 71 and 72 or 81 and 82 are formed by alternately attaching the plurality of support pieces to facing surfaces of highly bending resistant reinforcing bars and the upper nipper portions 71 and 81 are vertically moved relative to the lower nipper portions 72 and 82 by the plurality of vertical cylinders 73 and 83 so as to seize or release the cloth, it is possible to seize the cloth with a strong force and consequently, to constantly impart an appropriate tension throughout the cloth along the X-axis of the cloth.

After the cloth is tensioned along the X-axis by the left and right nipper portions 70 and 80, an embroidering operation is performed to achieve various embroidered patterns via Y-axis displacement of the moving body 40 and X-axis displacement of the sewing device 60 on the moving body 40.

Specifically, as the moving body 40 performs Y-axis displacement on the base framework 10 by the LM guides 41 and 42 and the ball screw 43 that is rotated forward or reverse by the motor 44 and simultaneously, the sewing device 60, which includes the plurality of sewing heads 67 and the base 65, performs X-axis displacement on the moving body 40 by the LM guides 61 and 62 and the ball screw 63 that is rotated forward or reverse by the motor 64, an embroidering operation is performed to achieve a desired embroidered pattern.

During the embroidering operation, the cloth fed to the base framework 10 may gradually sag toward the center thereof even if the cloth is pulled in all directions so as to be appropriately tensioned along the X-axis and Y-axis. According to the present invention, the plurality of supporting bands 50 is densely installed in an embroidering direction of the sewing device 60 between the front frame 13 of the base framework 10 and the moving body 40 such that one end of each supporting band 50 is wound on the winding rod 52 provided at the front frame 13 so as to be tightly tensioned by the torque motor 51 of the winding rod 52. The supporting bands 50 can serve to balance the cloth that is on standby for an embroidering operation.

After a predetermined unit size of cloth fed to the base framework 10 is completely embroidered, the embroidering operation is temporarily stopped and the left and right nippers 70 and 80 are released from the cloth to allow the embroidered cloth to be discharged from the embroidering machine via operation of the cloth feeding roller 20 and an embroidered cloth winding roller and simultaneously, a new predetermined unit size of cloth is fed. Subsequently, once the moving body 40 is moved rearward and is on standby at the rear side of the base framework 10, the left and right nippers 70 and 80 are again operated to seize and pull opposite sides of the cloth to impart tension to the cloth along an X-axis thereof so as to enable implementation of a repeated embroidering operation.

In this way, in a state in which the predetermined unit size of cloth fed to the base framework 10 is appropriately tensioned along the X-axis by the left and right nippers 70 and 80, the sewing device 60, which is on standby at the rear side of the base framework 10, is gradually moved forward along with the moving body 40 while performing an embroidering operation. Thereby, the predetermined unit size of cloth fed to the base framework 10 is completely embroidered if the sewing device 60 reaches a front position of the base framework 10. In this case, since the left and right nippers 70 and 80 continuously impart tension to the cloth along the X-axis throughout the embroidering operation, there is no risk of deformation of an embroidered pattern due to variation in the tension of the cloth or twisting of the cloth during the embroidering operation.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrating another embodiment of the present invention, the two moving bodies 40 a and 40 b are installed on the base framework 10 a and the sewing devices 60 a and 60 b are installed respectively to the moving bodies 40 a and 40 b so as to be independently operated. Accordingly, if the front and rear moving bodies 40 a and 40 b and the sewing devices 60 a and 60 b are simultaneously operated to perform an embroidering operation in a state in which the rear sewing device 60 b is on standby at the rear side of the base framework 10 a and the front sewing device 60 a is on standby at the center of the base framework 10 a, a time required to embroider a predetermined unit size of cloth fed to the base framework 10 a can be cut in half, up to doubling productivity.

It should be noted that the present invention is applicable to a quilting machine via exchange of sewing heads although the present invention describes an application of the embroidering machine. 

1. An embroidering machine comprising: at least one moving body installed on an approximately rectangular base framework and adapted to be displaceable along a Y-axis by an LM guide and a ball screw connected to a motor; at least one sewing device installed on the moving body and adapted to be displaceable along an X-axis by an LM guide and a ball screw connected to a motor; and left and right nippers longitudinally installed in parallel to each other on opposite sides of the base framework, wherein a supporting band is installed between the moving body and a front frame of the base framework such that one end of the supporting band is wound on a winding rod provided at the front frame so as to be tightly tensioned by a torque motor connected to the winding rod. 